Title: The School of Night: A Novel
Author: Karl Ove Knausgaard
Translator: Martin Aitken
Pages: 509
Release: January 13, 2026
Awards: National Book Award for Translated Literature shortlist (2026)

Unable to take criticism. Myopic. Self-absorbed. Narcissistic. Perpetually wounded by the realities of life. Rarely have I encountered a main character so detestable. And yet, an entire novel told from Kristian Hadeland’s perspective proves incredibly engrossing and hard to put down. It was strangely alluring to hear his thoughts and understand his twisted worldview. Early on, I was unsure if he deserved redemption or a comeuppance. Knausgaard paints a layered portrait of Hadeland that could’ve rendered either verdict defensible, but the evidence of his awfulness keeps piling up until it’s clear that he is irredeemable.

Karl Ove Knausgaard’s prose, translated from Norwegian by Martin Aitken, draws you in. Nicely paced, never lagging or falling into tedium, the novel maintains its grip throughout. It’s not until the final pages that the fantastical elements come into sharper focus, turning the mostly grounded reality of the story on its head. This was my first encounter with Knausgaard’s work, but it certainly won’t be my last.

★★★★